Start Working in Archicad

[Emoke Csikos]

This article will help you learn the basics you need to know before starting to work in Archicad.

This article is a part of a series titled Archicad Quick Tour.

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Starting Archicad

• The startup dialog of Archicad: Start Archicad
• How to start a new project in Archicad: Create New Project
• Opening an existing project: Open Recent Project(s), Browse for a Project, Close Project, Opening Projects through a Network

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The User Interface of Archicad

• Learn the basics about Archicad user interface (Toolbars, Windows, Palettes, etc.):
  • The Archicad User Interface

• Later you can customize the appearance of the user interface to best match your needs and preferences. These articles will help you do this:
  • Work Environment
  • Tips to set up Work Environment

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Saving your work 

Before you pause working, make sure you save your work and also remind yourself to save your work frequently with the Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac) shortcut combination. Learn more about how Archicad ensures data safety in the article titled Save, Autosave and Backup in Archicad.

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Closing a project 

• Close Project

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Libraries 

What are libraries?

They are collections of preconfigured, editable, localized parametric objects, that are also known as library parts, GDL objects or simply objects (see definition below). Archicad is shipped with a standard library (named simply Archicad Library) containing hundreds of objects. When you start a new project file, the Archicad Library is automatically loaded into your project. If you don't have any library loaded for some reason, basic Tools like the Door Tool, the Window Tool or the Stair Tool will only work with a very limited functionality not offering you the options to choose from a large variety of suitable objects. Libraries can reside in external folders or can be embedded in the project. All Objects are accessible from a loaded Library in Archicad and can be directly placed into your project. Learn the basics about how to work with libraries from the articles under the master article titled Libraries.

What are objects?

They are small files that save you the work of recreating many repetitive items in a building during design, such as windows, doors, pieces of furniture, plants, cars, people, pieces of mechanical systems, etc. All Archicad Objects are highly parametric; you can change their sizes, color and many other parameters to tailor them to best fit in your project. The example below shows different versions of the same object using different parameters:

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Add-Ons and Goodies 

What are add-ons?

They are separate small applications already integrated into Archicad that extend the basic functionality of the program. Learn more about them here:

• Add-Ons and Goodies
• Add-On Manager

What are Goodies? 

These are  free add-ons, which are not integrated into Archicad by default. You can add them to your Archicad. Read more about them here:

• About Goodies

This article is a part of a series titled Archicad Quick Tour.